All Blacks players have been told to take up their selection queries with the assistant coaches rather than boss Scott Robertson.
That is according to a report in the New Zealand Herald, which claims that individuals have sought an explanation from the head coach but that it would only come from either Scott Hansen or Jason Ryan instead.
A New Zealand Rugby review is already underway over the All Blacks‘ underwhelming 2025 campaign, where they lost three of their 13 games and failed to win the Rugby Championship.
Criticism of All Blacks regime
The results will be revealed at the end of January, but reports have already claimed that there are “widespread internal frustrations” within the set-up.
That is in regard to “communication, trust, strategy and selection” issues, with the players allegedly providing “stinging feedback” about the current regime.
Robertson also raised eyebrows when he told the Herald that it is Hansen who “effectively operates in the role most would recognise as the head coach”.
He has since clarified those comments, but the newspaper now appears to have uncovered more information which questions how hands-on the 51-year-old actually is.
“He has clarified with the Herald that he maintains a high degree of operational oversight, vetoes or amends tactical plans presented by assistant coach Scott Hansen and that he makes the final call in selection and operates in the same way as most other head coaches in the international arena,” journalist Gregor Paul wrote in the Herald.
“However, the Herald has also learned that several players have sought clarity from Robertson about why they were not selected for certain games, only to be told they would need to take that up with Hansen or forwards coach Jason Ryan.”
All Blacks’ struggles under Robertson
Robertson took over the coaching reins from Ian Foster following the conclusion of the 2023 Rugby World Cup and much fanfare greeted his arrival.
However, improvement, if any, has been minimal following four defeats in 2024 and three in 2025.
The All Blacks have also not lifted the Rugby Championship trophy in both years, something they never failed to do under Foster, with New Zealand winning four in a row between 2020 and 2023.
Although they reside at number two in the World Rugby rankings, the Kiwis sit a fair way behind the Springboks, who are currently at the summit.
England, who ended the All Blacks’ Grand Slam hopes in November, are hot on their heels, while France and Ireland are also in that chasing pack.
It is highly unlikely that New Zealand Rugby will change their head coach halfway through this World Cup cycle, but Robertson will be under significant pressure going into the 2026 Test campaign.
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